Waterproof fastener



Sept- 11, 1951 H. G. MORNER r-:YTAL

WATERPROOF FASTENER Filed Jan. 4, 1945 atented Sept. 11, 1951 WATERPROOF FASTENER Hans G. Mother-and :Eric LI. :flire'dselL NewYork, N. Y.;said1Fredsel1 assignorzto .said Morner Application January 4, 1945,-seria1No. 571,290

*The invention pertains to separable-fasteners, Aandi-ias as its primary Vobject-'the provision-cfa -fastenerwhich can easily andrapidly be opened and-closed.

G-ther objects 'and iadvantages of -the invention will appear from the following description and will lbe obvioustherefrom or may be ylearned by use of-t-he invention andare attained Vby utilization of theconstructionhereinafter described-and Aillustrated 'in `the accompanying 'drawing-s or by eonstructionsewhich are an equivalent thereof.

`-In some respects the invention comprises van improvement over the Afasteners ydisclosed inthe TI. .G. IMorner Patents No. 2306.488 dated Decernber 29, 1942, and--2,'355,81-6 dated August 13, `l1944.

The fastener is Ysusceptible of use in many andfdiversiedmanners and arts but isparticularly wellada-pted asa clcsu-refastenerfor use with Ilife-saving suits, rafts, Water-proof provision bags and other containers and particularly Where a lseparableclosure which is required :to be liquid and gas-tight'is required and -wnerethe closure must Vbe such that it can be easily, -readil-y :Sand rapidly-operated for. opening and closing. The 'invention is Y--well adapted Lfor -use in connection wit-h footwear and particularly'rubbershoes :and

v:boots or foot covering-sof-a-water-tightand-waterproof nature.

In the referred to Patent No. 2,306,4884the fastener therein is particuiarl-y described and -illustrated -in connection -with a life-saving land protecting suit and in -the lpresent application 4the 'fasteneris equally adaptableforsuch usepbut it lis to be understood that the invention vis not limited to such aspeciic `fuse 'or necessarily =in Yconnection or combination -with a liquidv or gastightclosure seain but is to be limitedonl-y with- 'in the scope of the hereinafter following and appended claims. n

'In the ldrawings wherein --one embodiment of the inventionis illustrated:

Fig il K is a vfragmentary vfront view illustrating one vform and embodiment of "the invention, )a portion vof 'the view being broken vaway to lmore clearlyillustrate Athe construction.

1Fig 2'is a transverse sectional Vview on theline l'2----2 of Fig. i1 looking j'i-n the direction indicated 'by arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewftakenon the lline 3 3 of Fig. vl, loolring'in the direction indicated by arrows.

Fig '4 is a ydetail perspective view of the twopart fastener, the ,parts being illustrated in ,their 'engaged or closed positions.

f8 Claims. (Cl. .Z4-:4203) The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated the drawings andaboutto be described is thatvof a liquid and A`gas--ti-ght type -of closure such-asis illustrated in the -before referred to 'Morner patents,-and with -the exception of the closure `fastening rmeans the present invention is closely similar -in `construction to the inventions of said patents.

The terminal-portions ofa sheet comprising the particular article or item-provided with'a'closure areV designated A-and B. These portions 'constitute Lthe'opposi-te side vedges of Yan opening Vand are to be secured together when it -is desired `to close the opening. The opening to `vbeclosed is designated I.

Inasrnuch-as-the closure is ofthe liq-uid and gas- Vtight type -the material -of which A and -B are the terminal ends-would in all probabilitybe of a flexible'andwater-proof nature suchfas `for instance rubber, arubber coveredor impregnated fabric or an lotherwise `suitably Vwater-proofed fabric. It is tojbe recognizedhowever that the invention is not rli-mited to the particular nature of the material in which the openingl is provided.

A flexible rubber strip extends throughout the length of the edges of each of the terminal Vportions A and -B. For convenience in description these -wiil bereferr-ed to as male and female-strips and are designated ygenerally as Crand D. These strips are substantially identical-to the strips-of the recited-issuedMorner patents. Each sti-'ip is composed of relatively thick but pliable and 'yieldable rubber which is preferably about the consistency of automobile tire rubber or slightly softer. The strips are therefore inherently flexible throughout their'lengths and are thus adapted to1confor1nto the shape ofthe container and its contents and can be Abent `by the application of a slightI amount of physicalforce.

"I'he vmale strip -is formed with a flat base portion `2 of tapering thickness to terminate in a thin. side edge portion. The base is adaptedfto be seated ongandvulcanized or otherwise suitably secured to the terminal edge B of the sheet. Preferably although not necessarily a sealing 'flap 'disprovided and overlies the upper face of the Vstri-pibase. lThe vlatbase portion 5 of the female strip -D is similarly formed and secured tothe terminal portion `A of -the sheet.

The femalestrip -D is provided with a socketor of which is arcuate and by a lower nodefor ridge 8 which curves upwardly and-outwardly vtu vprovide an upper terminal edge 9. The under face of the upper node and the upper face of the lower node are positioned more closely to one another than the maximum cross sectional diameter of the socket 6 to provide for said socket a mouth or entrance which is of reduced cross section in respect to the interior cross section of the groove. The upper and outer surface of the strip is curved or rounded as at I0. The under surface of the lower node is provided with a shoulder II the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The male strip is provided throughout its length with a node I2 which is shaped and dimensioned to snugly ll the groove or socket 6 in the female strip. This node is provided with a neck portion of reduced thickness so as to conform to and fit tightly in the Space between the extending ends of the upper and lower nodes of the female strip which constitute the entry into the socket of said strip. The male strip is shaped to provide upper and lower sockets for the reception of the upper and lower nodes of the female strip as clearly appears from Fig. 2 of the drawings. The top wall of the upper socket is of tapering thickness to provide a relatively thin lip portion I3 overlapping and overlying the upper node of the female strip. The lower wall of `the lower socket is likewise of tapering thickness to provide an overlapping and underlying lip I4 beneath the lower node of the female strip and the terminal edge of the lip I4 abuts the shoulder II on the under face of the lower node 8 of the female strip.

'I'he interlocked relationship of the strips clearly appears in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The strips which are yieldable and compressible because of the material of which they are composed can be readily, easily and quickly forced into interlocking relationship with one another by the application of a very limited amount of physical pressure. The strips will however, when they are locked and securely held in interlocking relationship, provide a liquid and gas-tight joint for the closure. The present invention specifically pertains to the provision of a fastening means for securing the strips in locked interlocking relationship and the provision of a fastening means which is automatically locked when the strips are forced into interlocking relationship yet constitute a fastener which can be quickly and unfailingly rapidly released when desired.

The strip or closure locking or fastening means per se is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings and in general comprises two wires, each of which extends throughout the length of one of the closure strips and which are so shaped as to cooperate with one another in the accomplishment of the recited desired results.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated each of the wires which for convenience in description are designated generally as E and F is of continuous length. It is to be understood however that if it should for any reason be desired each fastener could be individually formed. The use of a continuous wire for each strip has decided advantages in simplifying and reducing the cost of manufacture of the fasteners and simplifying and reducing the cost of fabrication of the finished and complete closure. By making the fasteners in the form of continuous wires the positioning of the wires on the closure strips for proper locking and releasing cooperation with one another is practically automatic whereas this would not be the case were each fastener individually formed and individually applied or secured to its respective closure strip.

To facilitate the description of the fasteners they, like the strips, will be referred to as male and female. The male portion of the fasteners is designated E and is associated with the male strip C, and the female portion of the fasteners is designated F and is associated with the female strip- D.

Referring to Fig. 4 which illustrates one individual fastening and having reference to the male fastener, it will be seen that it comprises a pair of spaced in line legs I5 and I6 from the adjacent ends of which extend outwardly a pair of spaced parallel arms I'I and I8 the outer ends of which are connected by a cross arm which has an upwardly and slightly rearwardly extending portion I9 terminating in a rounded nose 2D from which extends a downwardly and outwardly curved portion 2|. The nose 20 provides a hook, as will hereinafter more fully appear, in that the particular shaping of the cross arm provides an overhang to form a seat 22. The nose or hook 20 is disposed in a plane above, or below, dependent upon how the element is viewed, the arms II and I8.

The female portion F of the fastener comprises a pair of in line legs 23 and 24 from which extend outwardly spaced and parallel arms 25 and 2B which have their outer ends bent upwardly as at 21 and have their outer ends joined by a straight cross arm 28. Due to the upward bend of the arms 25 and 26 the cross arm 28 lies in a plane above the legs 23 and 24 and the inner portions of the arms 25 and 26.

As is apparent from Fig. 4 of the drawings the cross arm 28 of the female portion is adapted to be positioned in the seat 22 of the male portion of the fastener and beneath the hook portion 20 of the male portion of the fastener when in tension.

The wire forming the fastener elements may be of a resilient nature and thus permit the wire to give in a resilient manner upon the application of a reasonable amount of physical force. This wire is preferably of spring steel or stainless steel of high tensile strength. As will appear hereinafter portions of the fastener may yield as the fasteners move into locked and unlocked relationship.

From the description thus far given it will be seen that with the catch made in the form of a pair of continuous wires there is a mere duplication of catch elements throughout the length of the wire. This appears most clearly from Fig. 1 of the drawings. To simplify fabrication of the closure the male and female elements of the catch are disposed upon the flat bases of the male and female strips respectively and are held in place when these bases are vulcanized or otherwise suitably secured to the terminal portions A and B. The proper positioning of the cooperating elements of one wire in respect to the other will automatically position all of the catch elements throughout the length of the closure. Should it for any reason be desired the wires could be actually within the rubber constituting the closure strips, being placed there at the time said strips are molded. The length of the legs II and I8 and 25 and 26 of the male and female portions respectively of the catches together with the positioning of the wires on the strips is such that when the strips are positioned in interlocking relationship the cross arm 28 of the female catch element will have passed over and then lout aportion ofthe length of the closure.

directly under the nose or hook portion 20 of the male catch element, and -then lies parallel with 'the legs I5 and I6.

The manner of operation of the catches is las follows. Assuming that the closure is open, closure thereof is 'effected by starting -at the 'lower end of the closure and progressively pressing the strips C and D into interlocking relationship. In Fig. 1 of the drawings this operation is illustrated as having progressed through- Refer- 'ring to this figure itwill be seen that one of the catches is about to be moved into locked position.

As Vthe strips are pushed together the arm 28 of the female portion of the catch rides up the inclined portion I9 of the male portion of the catch and over the nose or hook portion thereof. As -the arm 23 passes slightly beyond the hook, asi't .will :upon tight compression of the closure strips, Athis arm lsnaps down beneath the hook andas the pressure .is released upon the closure strips this arm moves under the hook into the fposition illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings 'where it is directly below 2u and is parallel with a line 'drawn through legs I5 and I6. This opera- 'tion 'iis repeated throughout the length of the closure and can be a very .rapid one. As the closure is progressively closed the arms 25 can be heard to snap over and under the hooks 2D.

When it is desired to open the closure this Scan be quickly, easily and rapidly accomplished.

'It -is necessary only to grasp the base portions 'of the two strips and move them in opposite directions to one another in respect to their `longitudinal axes or to Vhold one strip against A: movement and move the other strip. When the `are progressed until they are moved below the arm-28 yand are finally disengaged therefrom.

It is thought that in normal operation the tendency would be to firmly grasp the strips and move them in opposite directions, as first explained. This would accelerate disengagement fof the catches which disengagement can be heard Aas the-parts of the 'catch snap apart.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in opening the closure the fastened sides of the closure are suitablygrasped and the sides of the closurear'e vmoved in a direction transverse the length of the closure. This might be described as imparting a ripping action to the closure, a ripping in a direction lengthwise of the closure.

In order to make the hooks engage it is necessary 'first to engage the rubber parts then by means of the legs onl the slide the legs 25, 26 and Il, I8 are depressed in such a manner that arms 28 will easilypass over hooks 20.

In both the opening and closing operations the Yresilient and compressible nature of the rubber strips enables these strips to be quickly and easily vpressed into interlocking engagement or disengaged from one another inaccordance with the particular desire of the user.

In both the closing and Vopening operations of the closurethere is a resilient cooperative'action catch. The cross arm I9 ofthe male catch portion vin Yadditionto -being inclined along its length ytion toward the legs I5 and I'E.

slants-01" is slightly curved backwardly in a direc- Thus as the strips are pressed `into interlocking relationship the cross arm 25 of the female catch portion readily slides up and yalong the leg I9 and over the hook or nose 2G. There is something similar to a cam action and there is some slight tendency -for .the cross arm I9 to be depressed as thev cross arm 23 rides up and over it. When the closure is pulled or `ripped open the under or rear surface ofthe cross arm I9 provides an inclined or cam-like face or surface which permits the cross arm 2S to readily move upwardly and outwardly to the extremity of the nose or hook 20 so as to snap over and past it to a released position. In this-action there may be some give in both the cross arm 28 and the nose V20 although 4the greatest movement isa bowing of the cross 'arm 2.8 ias pressure is exerted to pull this arm along and past the nose orhcok 2D. As towhich gives `the 'most Yas between the male and female portions ofthe catch would be dependent 'largely upon the exact direction of the pressure exerted -by reason ofthe direction of the pull ortearing action exerted to lopen the closure.

From the foregoing description it will beseen that the catch can be described as comprising a hook and an eye. The hook is formed 'as the cross arm of the male catch portion andthe eye comprises "the female portion of the catch. It will be understood that for proper operation the male and female portions of the catch are preferably rigidy secured to their respective strips or to the particular element which carries them. Movement :of the leg portions of the catch element would defeat the resilient action which is essential to the latching 'and unlatching-operations.

It will also be seen that when the catch is used in combination with resilient strips the male and female catch parts can be so positioned as to cause the resiliency of the strips to more rigidly hold the catch'in a locked position under resilient tension, if that-be desired. If vthe strips are in a state ofcompression when the latch elements are in locked or latched relationship then there would be a tendency for the strips to separate under resilient tension. This resilient tension or force would `tend to more forcibly hold the cross arm of the female catch portion in its seat under the hook of the male catch portion. This resilient tension, however, would not render it any more diflicult to rapidly disengage the catch elements by-pulling the parts, as described, when it is desired to open the closure.

The catches are at the inner side or Within the closure which serves to protect them which is highly desirable where the catch is used in connection with a garment or articles used in salt water.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and describedbut departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims 4without 'departing from the principles of ythe invention and lwithout sacrificing its chief advantages.

We claim: l. A fastener comprising, a hook and a member movable substantially unilinearly into engagement withand disengagement from said hook, an

'inclinedbam-like surface at-each Yside -of Vsaid hok, said hook engaging member adapted to ride said cam-like surfaces as the fastener is hooked and unhooked, said hook and said engaging member each being formed of resilient metal yieldable to permit hooking and unhooking by said rectilinear movement, said hook and said member being mounted on opposed and oppositelymovable inter-engaging strips of compressible material, said strips when inter-engaged being in a state of compression and exerting a resilient, interlocking force upon the hook and said member.

2. A fastener comprising a female member having a pair of parallel arms and a cross arm joining said parallel arms, a male member comprising a pair of parallel arms separated from each other by a smaller distance than the parallel arms of said female member and a cross arm joining said pair of parallel arms and extending upwardly from each of said parallel arms and reversibly back upon said arms so as to provide a guide for the movement of said female cross arm durinc,r the engaging operation and a clasp for said cross arm after` engagement, said members being made of resilient material yieldable to permit engagement and disengagement by substantially rectilinear motion of the members toward and away from each other respectively, and means for constraining said members to such motion, said means including opposed and oppositely-movable, separable inter-engaging strips of compressible material, the female member being connected to one strip and the male member to the opposite strip, said strips when inter-engaged being in a state of compression and exerting a resilient, interlocking force upon the male and female members.

v3. A fastener comprising a male member having a pair of parallel arms and a cross arm joining said arms and extending upwardly from said arms and folding back upon said arms as it extends upwardly and a female member having a pair of parallel arms spaced further apart than the parallel arms of said female member and a cross arm joining said parallel arms, said members being made of resilient material yieldable to permit engagement and disengagement by substantially rectilinear motion of the members toward and away from each other respectively, and means for cons-training said members to such motion, said means including opposed and oppositely-movable, separable inter-engaging strips of compressible material, the female member being connected to one strip and the male member to the opposite strip, said strips when inter-engaged being in a state of compression and exerting a resilient, interlocking force upon the malp and female members.

4. In a fastener of the character set forth in claim 3, each of the parallel arms of said female member inclined upwardly along part of its length adjacent the cross arm joining the parallel arms, for facilitating the locking engagement of said male and female members.

5. In combination, a fluid-tight closure including a pair of resilient, flexible strips forming male and female members, the male strip having a projecting node and the female strip having a groove shaped to conform to said male node and a pair of projecting lips defining said groove and fitting over said node on said male strip so as to grip said node, and a fastener for holding said strips in sealed relationship compris-ing in combination, a male member having a pair of parallel arms and a cross arm joining said arms and extending upwardly from and folding back upon said parallel arms, and a female member having a pair of parallel arms spaced further apart than the parallel arms of said male member and a cross arm joining said parallel arms of said female member and engageable between the cross arm and parallel arms of said malemember, said members being made of resilient material yieldable to permit engagement and disengagement by substantially rectilinear motion of the members toward and away from each other respectively, and means for constraining said members to such motion, said strips in sealed relationship being in a state of compression whereby to exert a resilient, interlocking engaging force upon said members.

6. In combination, a fluid-tight closure including a pair of resilient, flexible strips forming male and female members, the male strip member having a projecting node defined by a pair of grooved portions and the female strip member having a pair of projecting nodes defining therebetween a grooved portion conforming in shape to said male node, said female nodes fitting tightly into the grooves defining said male node, and a fastener for `holding said strips in sealed relations-hip and comprising in combination a plurality of male members each having a pair of parallel arms and a cross arm joining said arms, said cross arm of each male member extending away from said parallel arms and simultaneously folding back upon said arms, and a plurality of female members each having a pair of parallel arms and a cross arm joining said parallel arms having a greater width than Said associated male cross arm, said members being made of resilient material yieldable to permit engagement and disengagement by substantially rectilinear motion of the members toward and away from each other respectively, and means for constraining said members to such motion, said strips in sealed relationship being in a state of compression whereby to exert a resilient, interlocking engaging force upon said members.

'7. In a fastening and sealing combination of the character set forth in claim 6, the male cross arm of each fastener extending upwardly from and in a skewed direction with respect to the parallel arms of said fastener and simultaneously folding back upon said arms so as to form a hook portion for guiding the movement of said female member during the engaging operation and for securing said female member after the completion of said engaging operation, and the parallel arms of said female member inclining upwardly in the portions adjacent the connecting cross arm for facilitating the movement of said female member up the hook portion of said male member.

8. In combination, a iiuid tight closure including a pair of resilient, flexible strips forming male and female members, the male strip member having a projecting node and recessed portions defining said node, the tip portion of said node being wider than the tail portion, and the female strip member having a pair of projecting nodes defining a groove portion with a relatively narrow mouth and corresponding in shape to Said node on said male member, and a fastener for holding said strips in sealed relationship and comprising a plurality of male and female members, the male members extending in series along the length of one of said strip members and the female members extending in series along the length of said other strip member. each of said male members comprising a pair of parallel cross arms and a cross arm joining said arms and extending upwardly from and baokwardly upon said parallel arms, and each of said female members comprising a pair of parallel arms separated from each other by a greater distance than the parallel arms of said male members and inclined along part of their length and a cross arm joining the inclined portions of said parallel arms, said male and female members each being formed of a continuous length of wire, said members being made of resilient material yieldable to permit engagement and disengagement by substantially rectilinear motion of the members toward and away from each other respectively, and means for constraining said members to such motion, said strips in sealed relationship .being in a state of compression whereby to exert a resilient, interlocking engaging force upon said members.

HANS G. MORNER. ERIC J. FREDSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 669,515 Evans Mar. 12, 1901 690,528 Phillips Jan. 7, 1902 755,162 Olsson Mar. 22, 1904 1,609,486 Marinsky Dec. 7, 1926 2,306,488 Morner Dec. 29, 1942 2,355,816 Morner Aug. 15, 1944 2,371,776 Van Orman Mar. 20, 1945 2,385,816 Krupp Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,278 Great Britain 1894 

